Ricky Gervais Cast As Mole In The Wind In The Willows

For as incredibly funny as he is, Ricky Gervais has never had much domestic box office success as a lead actor. Since 2008, Gervais has been the star of two films, Ghost Town and The Invention of Lying, but neither project was able to make more than $20 million. Here's hoping that The Wind In The Willows can do better, considering that Gervais has just landed a role.

Variety reports that the actor has signed on to play the Mole in the Ray Griggs-directed adaptation, that will blend live-action and animatronics. The Office creator is the first actor added to the cast, as the film is set to go into pre-production this year. The report states that more casting will be announced shortly. In the film, based on the beloved Kenneth Grahame story, four friends - Rat, Mole, Badger, and Toad - join together when their home is threatened by mankind.

More Gervais is always a good thing, and while he likely won't be playing anything resembling his on-stage persona, it's hard to imagine that he won't do something great with the part. The first teaser trailer released last summer was fantastic, and with Weta, Peter Jackson's visual effects company, behind the film, you can be sure that we will be in for a visual treat.